Lovejoy Independent School District

 
Email Express
August 31, 2016
A Message from the Superintendent


Dear Lovejoy Community:
 

I hope this correspondence finds you and your family settling into the new school year.  It is exciting to have your students back in the classrooms.  As always, please call on me, or any of our administrators if we may be of assistance.
 
There are a few tickets remaining for one of the auction items from the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools Denim and Diamonds Auction and Gala: The Leadership Council BBQ. This event is hosted by Lovejoy administrators. The event will be held on September 30th at Noah's in Fairview, from 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM. The BBQ will be catered by Prairie House Restaurant and includes an open bar with beer and wine. The entertainment for the evening will be provided by Kent Messer (Principal of Willow Springs Middle School) and Ray Winkler (Principal of Sloan Creek Intermediate School).  The cost of the tickets is $100 per person.

If you are interested in attending, you may purchase your tickets on the Foundation for Lovejoy School's website by clicking here .  Be sure to add "BBQ Tickets" in the comments field.
 
Should you require any assistance, please contact the Foundation's President, Stephanie McCaffity, at: slbmccaffity@gmail.com .
 
This past Saturday, the Lovejoy Varsity Football team competed in the Tom Landry Classic.  Although we experienced a loss to Argyle, it was an outstanding evening for our Lovejoy family.  It is always enjoyable to see so many of our students participating in different extracurricular activities, and attending as fans.  It makes football nights memorable.  Eric Miller, a Senior at LHS, can be found on the sidelines, attending games as a staff photographer for the LHS yearbook.  The photos below are a sample of his great work.  Thanks, Eric, for capturing these moments for all of us to enjoy.














 
Listed in the upcoming events section is information regarding parking and tickets for the Varsity football game on Friday night.
 
The Lovejoy Cross Country teams competed in the Plano ISD Cross Country Invitational this past Saturday. The Varsity boys finished 1st overall, Varsity Girls 9th overall, JV Boys 2nd overall, and JV Girls 8th overall. The Varsity Boys 1st place finish (40 Points) beat 6A Allen (63 Points), 6A Plano West (66 Points), and defending 5A State Champs Frisco Wakeland (124 Points). Other Top 10 5A ranked teams in the field included #6 The Colony (7th Overall - 232 points) and #10 McKinney North (9th Overall - 287 points). Full re-cap and results can be found here .  




Grant Tiff placed 2nd overall in the Plano ISD Cross Country Invitational and was named txrunning.com 5A Boys Runner of the week .  



The Lovejoy High School Volleyball team took 3rd place in the Lonestar Circle of Champions tournament which was held in Plano last weekend.  Callie Holden and Lexie Smith made the All-Tournament Team.



Megan Pickens, a 7th grader at Willow Springs Middle School, received a black belt in TaeKwonDo.  Congratulations, Megan, on this significant accomplishment.

 
A Message from the
Deputy Superintendent



Dear Lovejoy Community:
 
Welcome to the second week of the school year.  It is always heartwarming to see the various practices and ongoing traditions at each campus, designed to ensure our students feel welcomed by teachers and administrators, as they build a learning environment to foster academic success for the school year.  James Comer, professor of child psychology at Yale University has said, "No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship."  If you don't believe your child is starting to feel connected at school, please talk to an administrator or counselor at your child's campus.  We need your partnership to build the best school year for each student.  

The "Lovejoy Way" includes every student feeling loved and cared for as they are supported and challenged to reach their full potential.  A recent demonstration of academic success can be seen in the ACT mean scores for the Class of 2016.  Over the last five years, the composite mean scores for each graduating class have increased significantly.  In 2012, the ACT composite for the 166 students who tested was 24.3.  For the 232 students who tested from the Class of 2016, this composite mean score is 25.6.  The composite score is the combination from the English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science sub-tests of the ACT.  The 2016 State Mean Composite was 20.6 which shows Lovejoy graduates performing a full 5 points higher than the Texas mean score.

We hope you love where you have chosen for your child to learn.  If you have feedback to help us improve, please do not hesitate to contact me on my cell at 214.385.1967. 


Respectfully,
Dennis Muizers

High School Academic Competitions


Students are invited to join one or more of the Lovejoy High School academic competitions.  Academic competitions are an excellent way for students to put their education to use and become more proficient in their area of study.  These competitions often give students the motivation needed to learn and supplements their classroom experience.  Additionally, students may earn scholarship money through their participation.  For additional information regarding the competitions listed below, please contact Jason Taylor:  jason_taylor@lovejoyisd.net
 
Academic Decathlon
The Academic Decathlon is a prestigious team competition which encourages students to dive deeply into an annual topic.  This year's overall theme is "World War II".  The decathlon consists of 10 events including: Mathematics (Algebra I and Trigonometry), Music of WWII era, Art of WWII era, Language and Literature (Transit by Anna Segher), Economics, Science (nuclear chemistry and physics), Speech, Interview, Social Studies, and Essay.  The Academic Decathlon encourages students of all achievement levels to participate.  Each team is made up of 9 students: 3 students each from the Honors (3.75-4.00 unweighted GPA), Scholastic (3.00 - 3.74 GPA), and Varsity (0.00 - 2.99 GPA) levels.  Grade point averages are determined only by core classes plus foreign languages and AP Computer Science, and no extra weight is given for PreAP or AP classes.
 
The Academic Decathlon competition will be January 20-21 at Coppell High School, and the State competition will be held in El Paso February 24-26.  Top performers at the State meet (top 6 per division) can earn scholarship money, and the winning team can advance to the National meet in Madison, Wisconsin. 
   
UIL Academics
The University Interscholastic League offers contests in several academic areas.  These contests give students a chance to explore academic topics which are designed to complement the high school curriculum.  Most of the competitions consist of 4-person teams, so students have a chance to advance as either a team member or an individual competitor.  Contests offered include:  Accounting, Current Events, Science, Social Studies, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Literary Criticism, Spelling and Vocabulary, Journalism, Ready Writing, Number Sense, Calculator Applications, and Mathematics.  Some events have different topics each year.  Those contests this year are:
 
  • Literary Criticism:  Novel, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan; Poetry, Poems by Rudyard Kipling; and Twelfth Night by Shakespeare
  • Social Studies:  The US Constitution
 
Practices for each contest will begin after Labor Day.  Students are expected to attend 1 of 2 invitational meets in January and February, respectively.  The District meet this year will be held at Highland Park High School on March 23-25, and the Regional meet will be held April 7-8. 
 
Students advancing to the UIL State meet just once during their high school career have the opportunity to apply for TILF scholarships.  A complete list and eligibility requirements can be found here .   
 
Quiz Bowl
Quiz Bowl is a trivia competition which serves as an outlet for students to apply what they have learned in school.  All topics are covered in Quiz Bowl including sports, entertainment, mythology, music, art, and all other school-related topics.  Quiz Bowl tournaments are team competitions held in a game-show style format.  Each school has 4 players compete per team, but each team member contributes independently to buzz in and win toss-up questions which allow the team to work together for bonus points.  The tournament format varies between 20-question NAQT style, and the 4-quarter format which includes a bonus round and lightning rounds.  Schools may enter multiple teams, and there is usually a junior varsity division for new players. Students typically attend one tournament per month from September through February.  Teams can earn bids to the Texas State Championship, as well as to the National tournament. 
 
Practices for Quiz Bowl began on Monday, August 29, 2016, in room D222, and the first tournament will be September 24 at the Greenhill School in Dallas.
 
TACS Academic Challenge
The Texas Association of Community Schools offers a scholarship competition to member school districts.  The TACS is in a format similar to the Academic Decathlon.  Instead of a 9-person team, however, schools are allowed to enter up to three teams of 3 students each.  Each team consists of one Honors student, one Scholastic student, and one Varsity student.  The TACS competition questions are based on the state TEKS which students learn throughout high school.  Scholarships can be earned at both the regional and state level competitions which take place in the Spring.
 
News

Referrals for Gifted and Talented Services
 
The online referral window for gifted and talented services for grades K-12 is now open. All referrals are processed online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, located at:  https://powerschool.lovejoyisd.net/public/ .

The referral window for grades 1-12 will close Friday, September 16, 2016. Testing for grades 1-12 will be Saturday, October 15, and Saturday, October 22, 2016.
 
Kindergarten referrals will be accepted through October 14, 2016. Kindergarten testing will begin in November.

For questions regarding services in grades K-4, please contact Caroline Garcia at caroline_garcia@lovejoyisd.net or via phone: 469.742.8310 .
 
For questions about services in grades 5-12, please contact Brie Smith at brie_smith@lovejoyisd.net or via phone: 469.742.8032
 

Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse:  Registration Now Open
Join the most exciting, fastest growing sport in the country. Registration is now open for the fall season of Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse, grades 1 - 12, boys only.  Click here to view additional information regarding registration.  Rosters are filling fast.  Register now!
 
For additional information regarding the Lovejoy Leopard Lacrosse program, visit their website at:  www.leopardlacrosse.com .

 
Volunteer Application Process Now Open for 2016-2017
The volunteer application process for the 2016-2017 school year is now open.  Please click here to begin the process.  Should you have any questions, please contact:
 
Volunteer Coordinator
469.742.8000
 

2016-2017 School Calendar
The 2016-2017 school calendar has been updated with early release dates and a professional development day on January 2nd, which will not be a school day for students.  Please click here to view the 2016-2017 calendar.


 

Lovejoy ISD App
The Lovejoy ISD App is available for download on both Apple and Android devices.  To download the app for Apple devices, please  click here .  To download the app for Android devices, please  click here .  



Twitter and Facebook
Are you following the district on Twitter ?  Have you liked us on Facebook ?  Join us on social media for news and announcements.
 
 
Upcoming Events  

 
Parking & Tickets for Lovejoy vs Frisco Wakeland:  September 2
This Friday, September 2, 2016, is the first varsity football home game of the season: Lovejoy vs Frisco Wakeland, 7:30 PM.
 
For detailed information regarding parking, please click here
 
Pre-game general admission tickets are available for purchase at the LHS School Store until 1:00 PM on game day.  Pre-game ticket prices are $6:00/Adult, $3.00/Students in grade K-12, and Free/Pre-K and younger.
 
The gates open at 6:00 PM on game night.  Game night ticket prices are $8.00 for both Adults and Students, and are free for Pre-K and younger.
 
Lovejoy student IDs do not provide free admission for varsity football games.
 
For additional information regarding tickets and passes, please click here.

 
Lovejoy vs Frisco Lone Star Tickets on Sale
Friday, September 9, 2016, the Lovejoy varsity football game will take place at the Ford Center at the Star.  Fans may purchase tickets for the September 9th game at the pre-sale price until the day of the game.  Click here to purchase tickets.
 
For additional information regarding varsity football tickets, please click here




Gus M acker Basketball Tournament:
September 10 - 11

The 2nd Annual Gus Macker Basketball Tournament will be held September 10-11, 2016 at The Village at Fairview.  For general tournament information, click here .  You may register a team at:  www.macker.com
 





Gifted and Talented Meet & Greet
The Lovejoy Gifted Association will host an informal Meet and Greet on Tuesday, September 20 from 8:30-10:30 AM in the Board Room of the Lovejoy ISD Administration Building, 259 Country Club Road, Allen, TX 75002.  Please join us to learn more about the Gifted and Talented program at LISD, as well as The Lovejoy Gifted Association.  This is an opportunity to meet Brie Smith (LISD Director of Advanced Academics), Caroline Garcia (LISD Elementary GT Coordinator), and other GT parents. For additional information please visit the LGA website at www.lovejoygifted.org .

 
An Evening with the Majestics:  September 23
The Majestic Dance Team is inviting girls K-6 to join them for an Evening with the Majestics on Homecoming night, Friday, September 23rd. Join the Majestics in performing the pre-game fight song in the victory lines on the field, then sit with the Majestics and participate in "stand routines" in the bleachers. During half time, the Majestics will dedicate a special routine to you and your new "Mini Majestic" friends. Click here for additional information, or visit the Majestics website at:  www.majesticsdance.org .
 

Lovejoy High School Bowling: Join the Team + Parent Meeting on   September 26
It is time for another amazing year for our bowling team, and we want you to join us.  Regardless of your skill level, if you are in 9th-12th grade and like to bowl, we invite you to join the team.  Click here to complete an interest form. 
 
A meeting for parents will be held on Monday, Sept 26th at 6:00 PM in the Lecture Hall at Lovejoy High School.  

 
Junior Leopard Mini Cheer Camp:  October 8
The LHS Cheerleaders are hosting their annual Junior Leopard Mini Cheer Camp for kids 4 years through 4th grade.  Join the LHS cheerleaders on October 8th to learn cheers, chants, and jumps.  Cheer with the cheerleaders during the first quarter of the Varsity game on Leopard Friday, October 14th. A cheer t-shirt is included in the cost.  Click here to view additional information.  Click here for the registration form. 

 
Where Are They Now?

If you would like to provide us with accomplishments of a Lovejoy graduate, please click here .   We will share this information in the "Where Are They Now?" section of Email Express.  It is a pleasure to report the successes of Lovejoy graduates during their college years and beyond.


Austin Welhouse - Class of 2013
Austin is a Senior at Indiana University's Kelly School of Business.  He is a member of the Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity and Alpha Gamma Chi Fraternity

 
Love Where You Learn

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. 
 
With Respect,
 
Ted Moore
Superintendent
Lovejoy ISD
972.415.8129 (mobile)
469.742.8011 (office)